Robert Moses papers

1912-1980 D

The Robert Moses Papers provide a vast, though by no means comprehensive, view of Robert Moses' long career as a public official. The great number of positions which Moses held, many of than concurrently, over long periods of time, make it difficult to identify precisely which portions of the collection document which aspect of that career. Similarly, the often unorthodox means by which Moses sought to achieve his plans at times obscures any separation of duties. While it is possible to identify series in the papers, it is important to consider that Moses' concerns were far-reaching, and that he considered no project, whether parks, parkways, bridges, tunnels or housing, simply of one department, division or commission. As a result, the letterhead of a given department is no guarantee that the matter discussed in the letter is within the purview of that department. Similarly, over the span of the papers, Moses' secretaries and filing systems changed: some files are alphabetical-subject, while others are chronological.

The Robert Moses Papers can be divided into sixteen principal series: Personal Correspondence and Library Files, 1912-1980; Triborough Bridge and Tunnel (TBTA), 1932-1966; Emergency Public Works commission, 1933-1934; Office of the City Construction Co-ordinator, 1933-1953; New York Gubernatorial Campaign, 1934; New York City Department of Parks, 1934-1958; New York Constitutional Convention,1938; Long Island State Park commission, 1953-1962; New York State Council of Parks, 1953-1962; Committee for Slum Clearance, 1954-1959; New York State Power Authority, 1954-1962; 1964-65 New York World's Fair, 1960-1966; Speeches; "Housing", 1924-1960; Printed Matter, 1934-1967; and Photographs. It is important to realize that Moses' activities were almost inseparable from each other, and his characteristic approach to his work involved many of the same questions, issues and personalities regardless of Muses' "official" relationship to the series under consideration. The contents of the series: correspondence, related press releases, reports, speeches, magazine and clippings are also consistent from one series to another.

The Robert Moses papers are arranged in sixteen series:

• Series 1. Personal and "Library" Correspondence

  Series represents the largest bulk and the greatest span of material. The early portions of these files contain materials relating to the Municipal Research Bureau, and Moses' early career as a reformer, the creation of Jones Beach, the Long Island State Park and parkway system - especially the acquisition of land and rights of way, and bond and funding issues, and Moses' tenure as Governor Alfred E. Smith's Secretary of State, the latter representing Moses' only real "political" appointment. These files also reflect his role in the Moreland commission bank failure investigation of 1929, the creation of the State Park system, and the State Council of Parks, "home rule" for New York City, and reform in New York State government. Also included is material relating to banking regulation, early depression relief, and the 1939-40 World's Fair. Prominent correspondents include Alfred E. Smith, Herbert Lehman, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Benjamin Cardozo and Fiorello La Guardia. The later portions of the correspondence refer to the establishment of the United Nations Headquarters in New York, the 1964-1965 World's Fair, the Hall of Fame of Great Americans, and extensive personal and family correspondence.

• Series 2. Triborough Bridge and Tunnel Authority
  1932-1966

  Files contain materials relating to the conflict with Harold Ickes, President Roosevelt, and the Federal government concerning Moses' continuing appointment as Chairman of the TBTA, as well as construction projects including the Triborough Bridge itself, the Brooklyn-Battery Tunnel, and later projects, such as the Verrazano Narrows Bridge. Other records in these files are marked 'Housing" and "Co-ordinator" which relate to Moses' activities in these areas while at the TBTA. There are also materials relating to planned but unrealized TBTA projects, such as the Lower Manhattan Elevated Expressway.

• Series 3. Emergency Public Works Commission
  1933-1934

  Files pertains to early, local depression relief efforts in New York City, and the relationship of those efforts to Works Progress Administration and other New Deal projects

• Series 4. Office of the City Construction Co-ordinator
  circa 1933-1953

  The material of the Office of the City Construction Co-ordinator represents a continuation of publicly funded building activities begun during the depression.

• Series 5. New York Gubernatorial Campaign
  1934

  Consist mainly of speeches, press releases, some correspondence, much background material on the issues of the election, including the generation of electrical power, banking regulation, and agricultural legislation and interests.

• Series 6. New York City Department of Parks
  1934-1958
• Series 7. New York State Constitutional Convention
  1938

  Relates to the New York State Constitutional Convention of 1938, and consists of correspondence files on the administrative, legal and personal issues of New York governmental reform in the 1930s.

• Series 8. Long Island State Park commission
  1953-1962

  Series 8 and 9 concern the issues of development, maintenance and improvement in the two governing bodies over the majority of New York Parks, both controlled by Moses, and treated as practically one entity.

• Series 9. New York State Council of Parks
  1953-1962

  Series 8 and 9 concern the issues of development, maintenance and improvement in the two governing bodies over the majority of New York Parks, both controlled by Moses, and treated as practically one entity.

• Series 10. New York State Power Authority
  1954-1962

  Correspondence files regarding the New York State Power Authority, concerns most prominently the development of power generating facilities on the Niagara and St. Lawrence Rivers, also in these files is correspondence documenting Moses' requests for waiver of the New York State mandatory retirement regulations.

• Series 11. Committee on Slum Clearance
  1955-1959

  Materials relating to the Committee for Slum Clearance, reflect Moses' activities in the area of urban housing and redevelopment of what were considered "blighted areas" in New York. The files include correspondence, reports, and plans for "Title 9" projects in the Bronx, Upper Manhattan, the Washington Square area, the Lower East Side of Manhattan, and Brooklyn.

• Series 12. New York World's Fair, 1964-1965, Inc
  1960-1966

  Consist of photocopies of letters and memos generated by Moses and his staff in the office of the President of the Fair, as well as copies of letters directed to him, or needing his consideration. The correspondence deals with the soliciting and construction of exhibits and facilities at the Fair, and administration of the Fair after its opening in 1964.

• Series 13. Housing
  1924-1960

  Consist of items from throughout Moses' career; the speeches are a selection of Moses' many addresses at official openings, graduations, and ceremonies of every sort, while the housing files include letters, reports and press releases from a variety of sources.

• Series 14. Speeches

  Consist of items from throughout Moses' career; the speeches are a selection of Moses' many addresses at official openings, graduations, and ceremonies of every sort, while the housing files include letters, reports and press releases from a variety of sources.

• Series 15. Printed Matter

  Largely comprised of TBTA "Greenbooks". These volumes are annual compilations prepared by the TBTA from 1934 to 1966 of official reports, speeches, magazines, and clippings on a variety of subjects with Moses' range of interests, but not necessarily related directly to the TBTA. There are also complete transcripts of the Moreland Commission proceedings of 1929, and other unsorted printed items.

• Series 16. Photographs

  Small selection of publicity and news service photographs of Moses.